Alves, Nolan win Cronin tourney in after-dusk playoff

John Nolan and Henry Alves of Easton Country Club defeated former Mass. Golf Association Player of the Year Brian Higgins and Mark O’Sullivan in the final round of the 35th John Cronin Memorial Four-Ball Tournament on Tuesday at the Country Club of Halifax.

By Bob Dicesare

The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA

By Bob Dicesare

Posted Apr. 24, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Apr 24, 2013 at 1:13 AM

By Bob Dicesare

Posted Apr. 24, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Apr 24, 2013 at 1:13 AM

HALIFAX

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The final round of the 35th John Cronin Memorial Four-Ball Tournament was a testament to perseverance and love for the game of golf.

The host site, the Country Club of Halifax, doesn’t quite have the history of a St. Andrews in Scotland or Ballybunion in Ireland, but it sure did look and feel like it out there on a cold, wet, wind-swept afternoon.

Yet, as afternoon turned to evening, the tournament would not end as a playoff ensued in the Cronin Division (low handicaps) between John Nolan and Henry Alves of Easton CC versus former Mass. Golf Association Player of the Year Brian Higgins and Mark O’Sullivan. All posted identical scores at 5-under-par 139 (71-68).

Thus, it was back out into the cold and rain before Nolan and Alves defeated Higgins and O’Sullivan with a par on the second extra hole (No. 17) at 7:55 p.m. under the cover of darkness.

Bill Tribou of Halifax and his brother, Bob Tribou of Pocasset GC, captured the Lambert Division (higher handicaps) by three strokes at 73-74-147.

“Dark? Are you kidding me? It was black out there,” said Nolan, an Easton resident who works as a patient liaison at New England Baptist Hospital. “I’ve never played competitive golf in cold and dark conditions like that. At least if it rains in the summer, it’s 70 degrees. We definitely got a taste of Scotland or Ireland out there.”

“That’s as rough as it gets,” said Alves, a Brockton resident who works in medical device sales. “That (No. 17) was definitely the last hole in the playoff. If 17 didn’t decide it, then it was either going to be decided by a card-off, or we were coming back at a later date to finish.”

In his 20 years as head golf professional at Halifax, Bob Giusti said he has never witnessed such harsh weather for both days of the tournament.

“It was one of the toughest back-to-back weather days in tournament history,” said Giusti. “Monday was cold and windy and got progressively colder as the day wore on, and Tuesday was cold, wet and windy, and also got worst throughout the day. It was a double dose. Bottom line is, the players with afternoon tee times had it worst off.”

But that didn’t stop Nolan and Alves from going on the attack. In fact, when the going gets tough, Alves knows how to get going. Two years ago, Nolan and Alves were paired at the two-day Easton Open, but the second round was rained out and rescheduled a few weeks later. Nolan had to miss it because he was on his honeymoon. Alves played solo for the final round and shot 74 on his own ball to win the tournament.

Playing with mittens and wool hats, Nolan and Alves grinded out a bogey-free round at 4-under 68. They immediately charged out with successive birdies on holes 1 and 2 before Alves hit a long drive on the par-5 11th, struck a 185-yard five-iron to within 7 feet, and sank the putt for eagle-3.

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Nolan and Alves got up-and-down for par over the final three holes for a commendable 4-under 68, then stayed warm and dry in the clubhouse and watched the leaderboard as Higgins and O’Sullivan came in late with the same score to set up a 7:30 p.m. playoff.

“Neither one of us had ever been in such a situation – a cold, dark playoff,” said Nolan, a four-time club champion at Easton CC. “Everyone was in the same boat, so we just did our thing and played to win.”

“It was a good round and an amazing finish because of the conditions out there,” said Alves.